By Sarah Sam Adda
The Japanese government has denied claims that Nigerians and other Africans will be granted special visas or immigration privileges under its new “JICA Africa Hometown” initiative.
In a statement on Monday, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said reports suggesting that Nigerians relocating to Kisarazu city would benefit from a new visa category were “contrary to the facts.”
The ministry emphasized that there are no plans to issue special visas or encourage large-scale immigration from African countries.
The initiative, launched by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), during the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, is designed to strengthen ties between African nations and Japanese local governments.
Under the program, four Japanese cities have been paired as “hometowns” for four African countries, with planned activities including cultural exchanges and collaboration with JICA volunteers.
Japan’s foreign ministry clarified that while the project encourages friendship and cooperation, it does not include immigration incentives, and pledged to correct any misinformation surrounding the program.
The clarification follows an announcement last week by Nigeria’s Federal Government suggesting that special visas would be created for skilled youths and artisans seeking to work in Japan, after Kisarazu city was designated as Nigeria’s “hometown.”
The announcement was made during a ceremony attended by Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, and Kisarazu Mayor Yoshikuni Watanabe, where a certificate was presented to formalize the city’s symbolic designation.
